About Me

My fascination with cancer biology began in the clinic rather than the classroom. As a veterinary technician, I helped with oncology cases; I witnessed the strength and resilience of animals battling what would ultimately be terminal illness, and the science of why some cancers are resistant to treatments. It is those two experiences which were the catalyst for my goal to find the link between veterinary medicine and biomedical research through the means of comparative oncology and improve the quality of life for both human and animal patients.

For the last five years, I have worked full time in clinical and surgical environments caring for exotic and companion animals. Those experiences allowed me to see many different types of diseases and how they present and respond to treatments and gave me an opportunity to see firsthand how difficult it is to make a diagnosis, and how frustrating it is when there are no effective treatment options available. My experience as a histopathology lab intern involved working with veterinarians in grossing and processing tissue samples, and this experience was invaluable in learning how cellular abnormalities translate into systemic disease. Seeing neoplastic transformation occur clinically and microscopically created an even greater curiosity in my mind as to how molecular changes result in the advancement of tumors and create resistance mechanisms to therapy.

My technical background has given me a solid foundation in laboratory skills and techniques, as well as the ability to be flexible and adaptable, and to work collaboratively within a team. Although I entered higher education as a non-traditional student balancing full-time work, my experience working while pursuing a degree gave me a much stronger sense of determination and taught me the importance of critical thinking during times of stress. Additionally, my experience working in a practical setting gave me a strong foundation to build upon as I pursue further study of molecular aspects of cancer biology.

I am particularly interested in signal transduction and tumor-host interaction, as well as the molecular basis for therapeutic resistance within cancer biology. The cancer biology division at UCF's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences represents the interdisciplinary and collaborative environment in which I would like to work. I am specifically drawn to Dr. Deborah Altomare's research in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), TP53 isoforms, and miRNA mediated regulation of tumor suppressor pathways. Dr. Altomare's lab focuses on dissecting tumorigenic signaling networks, and I believe her work directly relates to my interest in identifying how minor molecular variations in signaling pathways can lead to disastrous results. I look forward to contributing to studies using animal models to elucidate such pathways and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Ultimately, I wish to establish a career at the crossroads of veterinary and biomedical sciences: conducting comparative oncology research to inform both human and animal medicine. I plan to mentor students who come from diverse scientific backgrounds and help foster collaboration across disciplines through translational research efforts. The UCF Biomedical Sciences PhD Program will provide the rigorous academic preparation, mentoring, and research opportunities needed to reach my long-term career objectives.